HEALTH CORNER
Sussex County Division of Health Newsletter:
https://sussex.nj.us/cn/webpage.cfm?tpid=18729
Sparta Community Food Pantry PO BOX 867 Sparta NJ 07871
99 Demarest Rd, Sparta NJ 07871 www.spartacommunityfoodpantry.org 862-266-0563 foodpantry07871@gmail.com
Holiday 2025
The holiday season is quickly approaching. For many people the single holiday meal has become prohibitively expensive.
For the last 20+ years the Sparta Community Food Pantry has provided the holiday meal to families in need throughout Sussex County. We work with social service agencies, schools, and churches to connect with those who need this meal.
We have always held the strong belief that everyone deserves a holiday meal ( to be prepared at home) that allows each family the opportunity to sit together and enjoy each other , friends and family during this season .
Our hope is that we are able to bring a little joy to each recipient.
We distribute over 3 days, December 17, 18 and 19. The event is being held at SCFP - 99 Demarest Rd, Sparta.
In our effort to bring Holiday joy to over 1000 families we are inviting you to help us spread the word, Visit us during the event, bring some holiday music or join us for the event.
If you are interested and able please let me know and we can discuss details.
Thank you
Valerie Macchio - Executive Director
Sparta Community Food Pantry
Direct- 201-306-6148 valeriemacchio007@gmail.com
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html
What to know about Norovirus from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html
For more information on the Bird Flu and Norovirus, here is the latest Newsletter edition from the Sussex County Health Department:
https://sussex.nj.us/cn/webpage.cfm?tpid=18729
What residents need to know about the current Measles Outbreaks:
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
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Upcoming Events:
TBD for 2026
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Rabies Resources
During July 2024, fifteen (15) Sussex County residents received Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for potential Rabies exposure. There were sixteen (16) Rabies investigations conducted in the Township of Sparta during the month of July.
Rabies is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms appear, that is why it is very important for residents to understand how to avoid Rabies exposure and what to do if you think you have been exposed. Residents are also reminded to get their dogs and cats vaccinated.
Below is a convenient list of contact phone numbers and links to help our residents connect to appropriate resources:
Residents can contact:
Sparta Township Police Desk for Animal Control Services @ 973-729-6121.
Sussex County Division of Health @ 973-579-0370.
Residents are always advised to contact their medical providers regarding Post Exposure Prophylaxis.
Useful links providing information about Rabies:
https://www.sussex.nj.us/cn/webpage.cfm?TPID=8137
https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about/index.html
Check out the Sussex County Department of Health News Letter Here !
Health and Wellness
State Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
SHIP provides assistance in filing bills with Medicare/Medicaid and secondary insurance companies. It also helps determine your "Part D" needs. Please call 973-579-0555, ext. 1221 with any questions or visit shiphelp.org.
Women’s Health Screening
Next Clinic Date: December 11, 2025
This service is available free to underinsured and uninsured county residents who qualify for the NJCEED grant. A
cervical thin-prep Pap smear, clinical breast exam, and pelvic exam are included in the physical exam at the time of clinic.
Breast, cervical, colorectal, smoking cessation health education will be available at the time of screening. Mammograms
are scheduled for a later date. Pre-registration is required and participants must have an appointment. Walk-ins will not be
accepted. Please contact the Office of Public Health Nursing at 973-579-0570, ext. 1246, or visit
www.sussex.nj.us/nursing to obtain more information or schedule an appointment.
Please click here for a schedule of the NJCEED Women's Health Screenings.
Child Health Conference
Next Clinic Date: November 25, 2025
Complete physical exams, screenings, and age-appropriate immunizations for children from Birth-5 years old that are without health insurance. Clinics are located at the Public Health Nursing Office, 201 Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg, NJ. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 973-579-0570, ext. 1275. Clinic dates for 2025 are posted on www.sussex.nj.us/nursing.
Please click here for a schedule of the Child Health Conference
Health Check Clinic
Next Clinic Date: November 25, 2025
This clinic offers vaccines for adults and school-aged children. There is no fee for vaccines if uninsured or underinsured. Clinics are located at the Public Health Nursing Office, 201 Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg. Appointments are required. Please call 973-579-0570 ext. 1275 to schedule an appointment. Clinic dates for 2025 are posted on www.sussex.nj.us/nursing.
Please click here for a schedule of the Health Check Clinic
Environmental Health Office News:
• Sussex County continues to attend the scheduled Board of Health meetings in the municipalities on a monthly basis, ready to address any questions or concerns the board may have.
• Idling enforcement continues with Health Division inspectors spreading out throughout the county to educate vehicle operators as well as conduct enforcement activities. Vehicles observed idling beyond the allowable time limits are issued penalties in an effort to reduce air pollution.
• The increase in solid waste complaints has continued. These included both residential and commercial. Inspectors responding to complaints provide education and enforcement.
• Dirty dirt complaints have continued to be reported to both the Division of Health and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Inspectors work with NJDEP to investigate the sources of dirty dirt arriving in our county. Remediation and enforcement are our priority.
(CEHA) County Environmental Health Act: addresses environmental issues areas include air, water, solid waste, pesticides and noise regulations.
Vaccination Clinics
Clinics will continue to be updated on the SC website as they are scheduled. Public Health Nursing also continues to do weekly homebound vaccinations for COVID and Flu vaccines to those residents that are homebound.
COVID-19 Testing kits:
The Sussex County Division of Health continues to offer information on the SC website on how to obtain at home testing kits. Please visit https://www.sussex.nj.us/
In addition, the Office of Public Health Nursing also has a state given supply of Binax at home test kits. If you or your agency is interested in picking up kits from the office, please call 973-579-0570 ext 1275
Sussex Warren Chronic Disease Coalition (SWCDC)
Provides services and resources to reduce the burden of Cancer in Sussex and Warren Counties through education, community linkages, and implementing evidence based strategies to promote the primary prevention and early detection of cancer.
Outreach
Basic health literate handouts are available at all outreaches to reinforce healthy eating and physical activity for our community members and promote prevention of cancer which is considered a chronic disease
Special Child Health Services:
Case Managers continue to assist families with the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF). Case Managers work with Family Resource Specialists from the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) to assist families with educational needs and resources. Special Child Health Services works with Autism NJ to provide resources to families.
Outreach
- Information for SCHS and CICRF sent with Health Educator to all 24 Municipalities
- SCHS Unit Coordinator had follow up discussion with facilitator from Night TO Shine Program to review event.
- Information about SCHS with icon page links to community partners, CICRF, SPAN, EI, Register Ready
- SCHS information sent to schools with PHN during audits
- Resource e-mails sent to families as they become available
Meetings:
- Wallkill Valley Coalition Meeting
- Unit Coordinator Meeting
- Staff Meeting with review of accomplishments and concerns
- SCHS staff volunteered at Night To Shine at St. Francis de Sales Church
Education:
- When to Worry about your Patient’s worries
- Presentation from MADD
- Chronic Pain
Upcoming:
- Starting to prepare Needs assessment for 24-25 Grant year
- DSAC Meeting
- Quarterly State Meeting
- Unit Coordinator Meeting EI presentation
- Game of Life
- CPR Recertification and Training
- NJ CEC 2024 Spring Conference
- Conference at Ramapo High Leverage Practices Spring Conference
- SPAN NJ Family Engagement Hub Meeting
Men’s Health Screening
Next Clinic Date: TBD
Under the direction of the NJCEED Program, a clinic is held twice a year. Prostate and colorectal testing is done along with a free PSA blood draw. Health education will include prostate health, smoking cessation and colorectal cancer information. Participants are encouraged to bring back their colorectal test kit sent to them prior to their appointment. This clinic is free to all NJCEED participants and those men who are uninsured or underinsured. Appointments are required. Please call 973-579-0570 ext. 1246 to schedule an appointment.
Complete Metabolic Profile (CMP)
Next Clinic Date: TBD
A blood screening was offered including lipid profile tests, glucose, liver function tests, kidney function tests, complete blood counts and more. Fee for the clinic is $50. Appointments are required. Please call 973-579-0570 ext. 1275.
Tuberculosis Control Services
Public Health Nurses provide surveillance and case management to prevent the spread of tuberculosis. Daily direct observation of medication therapy and client/family education are components of this program.
There is currently no active cases.
Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
We have reached out to the North Jersey Health Collaborative to access documents that will assist with an amendment to the CHNA to make it acceptable to PHAB for accreditation.
The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the Community Health Improvement plan (CHIP) are completed and have been sent to the state of New Jersey. They are located on the Healthy NJ 2030 site: https://www.nj.gov/health/healthynj/2030/community-plans/
They are also located on the North Jersey Health Collaborative (NJHC) website: https://www.njhealthmatters.org/tiles/index/display?alias=sussexabout
The NJHC analyzed the BMI data collected for K-6 grade SC schools is 2 report periods: 2018-2019 and 2022-2023 school years. This primary data identified the age that childhood obesity rates begin to increase and districts in the county that have higher overweight and obesity percentages. This will help to identify our next steps in addressing primary prevention.
New Mental Health Resources for College Students
Virtual mental health and wellness support, including teletherapy, will be available at no cost to students at 44 of New Jersey's colleges and universities this fall.
More Information can be found here.
Vaccine Preventable Disease Program
The Vaccine Preventable Disease Program works to reduce and eliminate the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases affecting children, adolescents, and older adults by raising the immunization coverage rates of New Jersey citizens.
More Information can be found here.
Immunization Requirements
The potential for the spread of infectious diseases is increased whenever individuals are ought into group settings. To prevent some of the most serious infections, the New Jersey school immunization rules, Immunization of Pupils in Schools (N.J.A.C. 8:57-4) require students to receive a series of immunizations prior to attendance at school. In addition, schools are required to enforce requirements, maintain records, and submit annual reports to the state and their respective local health department. The following materials provide guidance and tools for carrying out these requirements.
More Information can be found here.
School Health Information
NJDOH public health guidance can be found here
Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters | CDC
Don’t Let a Tick Make Your Child Sick!
Food access in Sussex County:
Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives.
Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). If you’re 45 to 75 years old, get screened for colorectal cancer regularly. If you’re younger than 45 and think you may be at high risk of getting colorectal cancer, or if you’re older than 75, talk to your doctor about screening.
Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important..
Learn More Here
Lead Program
The Office of Public Health Nursing continues investigating childhood elevated blood lead levels. The nurse case manager conducts home visits and coordinates care for those children with elevated levels. The nurse case manager offers outreach and education with various partnerships within the county. Education and outreach for pediatricians and clinics continues with the goal of increased screening of those populations most at risk. There are currently eight (8) cases open and under investigation.
Need Travel Vaccines? Plan Ahead
International travel increases your chances of getting and spreading diseases that are rare or not found in the United States. You may need travel vaccines to help you stay healthy on your trip.
Before you travel abroad, it’s important to visit a healthcare professional or a travel health specialist at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Some vaccines require multiple doses, so it’s best to see a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Learn More Here
Traveler Genomic Surveillance Program Expansion
Travelers’ Health is excited to announce the expansion of the Traveler Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program to two additional international airports, Los Angeles and Seattle. This expansion is helping CDC continue to detect new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 among international air travelers. In total, the TGS program currently has sites in seven major U.S. international airports:
• Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Newark Liberty International Airport
• San Francisco International Airport
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
• Washington Dulles International Airport
The next time you travel through one of these airports, stop by the TGS booth, volunteer to participate, and receive a free COVID-19 at-home test kit for your time contributing to public health.